Patterning unit for use in a knitting machine



PATTERNING UNIT FOR USE IN A KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1968 DGC. 29, 1970 FA ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 a. L. FARMER ETA!- PATTERNING UNIT FOR USE IN A KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Due. 29, 1970 E. L. FARMER F-TAL 3115500397 I PATTERNING UNIT FOR USE IN A KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1968 s Sheets-Sheet s Fig.5.

3,550,397 PATTERNING UNIT FOR USE IN A KNITTING MACHINE Ernest L. Farmer and Arthur T. D. Jackson, Leicester, England, assignors to Wildt Mellor Bromley Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Filed Aug. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 752,030 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 24, 1967, 38,943/67 Int. Cl. D04b 15/74 US. Cl. 66-154 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A patterning assemblage for a patterning unit of the character described applicable to a knitting machine for action selectively on patterning butts or elements adapted to be influenced for producing pattern effects in knitted fabric. The assemblage comprises a carrier having longitudinal formations and a pack of discs each with internal notches whereby assembly of the discs in interlocking engagement with the carrier is effected.

This invention relates to rotary patterning units for use in the selective operation of needles or other elements in knitting machines, and has reference to such units which include in their make-up an assemblage of annular members hereinafter, for brevity, described as discs, with peripheral formations, and arranged co-axially on a concentric carrier so as to be adapted to act upon patterning butts on the needles or elements which are associated with the needles hereinafter referred to generically as elements for the purpose of controlling or influencing the same for patterning, as by variation of stitch formation, or in any other appropriate conventional manner.

A patterning unit of this character is advantageously, though not exclusively, applicable for pressive action on patterning butts on such aforesaid elements in a needle bed, such as a cylinder in a circular knitting machine.

Hence, a rotary patterning unit of the character described is applicable primarily to a circular knitting machine of the type including, in combination, elements which, in addition to being mounted in tricks in a cylinder for movement lengthwise therein selectively under the control of cams designed to act on the butts for patterning purposes, are also adapted for movement radially into their tricks, for the purpose of initiating such selective action, and pressers likewise with patterning butts thereon are located in the same tricks as and in front of the elements to be controlled or influenced. Usually, there is one presser for each element, and the patterning unit is rotated by means of gearing in timed relation with the knitting action, suchwise that the peripheral formation on the discs act upon the presser patterning butts, whereby selected pressers, and, hence also the corresponding elements, are pushed into their tricks with consequential ultimate production of pattern effects in the knitted fabric.

In this respect, the patterning units are intended for use mainly in circular knitting machines of the type having rotary cylinders, and stationary knitting cam systems,

United States Patent "ice and are driven through appropriate gearing in timed relation with the cylinders with which they are associated.

The peripheral formations of the discs may be formed as the result of a saw cutting, pressing, or stamping operation, so as to provide on each disc a complement of frangible bits separated by comparatively narrow radial slots open at the periphery. When the discs are located on their carriers there is thus constituted a unitary assemblage of discs with the slots in register lengthwise of the carrier, and by breaking off predetermined ones of the bits, preferably before assemblage of the discs on the carrier, the assemblage is adapted to produce a predetermined pattern in the ultimate knitted fabric.

The patterning unit thus formed is mounted on the machine in proximity to the elements to be acted upon, and can be changed as and when required to provide different patterning characteristics.

Having thus generally described the character and modis operandi of the patterning units to which the present invention is applicable, it will be perceived from the following further descripiton that the invention envisages an improvement in the construction of such patterning units including the discs, whereby pre-assemblage of the discs is simplified, and also a pre-loaded pack of discs is provided which is completely self contained in readiness to be detachably mounted in the patterning unit, so that one assembled pack can be substituted for, or replaced by another having ditferent patterning characteristics. In other words, interchange of individual patterning assemblages can be easily and quickly effected with a minimum amount of trouble, and consequent saving of time in effecting changes from one pattern to another during the knitting of patterned fabric.

Accordingly, the invention comprehends a patterning unit of the character described, comprising a construction of the concentric carrier and internal formation of the discs, whereby simple and easy arrangement of the discs on the carrier, and interlocking of the discs and the carrier are achieved.

To this end, the invention consists of a patterning unit comprising a carrier with longitudinally extending toothed formations, a disc locating formation, and discs, each of which is formed with internal notches, respectively shaped to permit location of the disc on the core and relative turning movement of the disc and the carrier, i.e., either one in relation to the other, and hence engagement of the disc with the toothed formation to effect interlocking of the disc and the carrier.

Additionally, the carrier may be formed with a keyway to receive a key whereby the discs and the carrier are effectively secured in the interlocked relation.

The following is a description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a preferred manner in which the invention is to be performed illustrated, by way of example, as applied to a circular knitting machine of the rotary needle cylinder type.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a composite perspective view showing at A a patterning unit with some discs omitted and at B an exploded view of the component parts (without discs) of a companion unit.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views, on an enlarged scale as seen from above, showing the formation of the discs and how they are assembled on the carrier.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a pair of discs and a spacer of normal dimensions.

FIG. is a vertical sectional elevation of a patterning unit and so much of the knitting machine as suifices to show the unit in situ.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in the preferred development of the invention, there is provided a rigid core in the form of a tubular element 1, into which are fitted a plurality of equi-angularly spaced toothed blades 2, and a plain guiding blade 3, and each disc 4 is formed with a locating notch 5 and equi-angularly spaced notches 6 shaped suchwise as to effect the interlocking of the discs and the toothed blades in the core 1 when turning movement is effected as aforesaid. The core may be made from a hard fibrous material or from suitable plastics.

The blades 2, 3 are conveniently made T-shaped as shown in FIG. 1 so that when the blades are in position, the T-shaped ends 2a, 3a project from the core at the lower end considering the core as viewed vertically. Conveniently the blades are inserted firmly in grooves 7 in the core, and another groove 8 is provided as a keyway for a plain key 9 with a T-shaped end 9a. Also the T-shaped blades 2, 3 may each be formed with lateral projections 2b, 3b at the opposite ends which conjointly with the T-shaped ends positively secure the blades from endwise movement in the core by engagement with the ends of the core. As an alternative, the blades may be moulded in situ when, as may be the case, the core is made from plastics.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a three-point arrangement of the toothed blades 2 is adopted, as shown in FIG. 2 the points being equiangularly spaced around the core 1 with a plain guiding blade 3 and a key 9 spaced between two of the points. Consequently, each of the discs has four internal notches comprising a substantially rectangular locating notch 5, and three ratchet tooth shaped notches 6 so as to provide for engagement of the discs with the toothed blades when the turning movement is effected. The toothed blades 2 may be saw-cut stamped or pressed to form slots 10 each of a width equivalent to the thicknesses of a disc.

As shown in FIG. 3 the respective notches are in spaced relation corresponding with the spacing of the blades. When a pack of discs is being made up according to a predetermined pattern graph each disc is presented to the core with one shoulder 11 of the locating notch 5 adjacent to the guiding blade 3, and the corresponding shoulders 12 of the core engagement notches 6 are spaced from the respective toothed blades 2, and after being slid over the several blades to the required extent the disc is turned, e.g. clockwise, so that viewing FIG. 2 the inclined shoulders 12a of these notches are passed through the corresponding slits or slots in the toothed blades. The opposite side or shoulder 13 of the locating notch determines the extent of the turning movement by contact with the blade 3. After the requisite number of discs have been packed on the core, one after another in this way, the locking key 9 is inserted lengthwise into the keyway 8 (FIG. 3) adjacent to the guiding blade, i.e. pushed through the locating notches 5 in the discs. The discs may be assembled singly or in groups, eg pairs, but referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 it is essential, that plain annular spacers 14 of less external diameter than the discs should be used to separate not only the discs in each group, but also in between each group. When it is desired to remove the discs from the core, the reverse procedure is adopted after removal of the key 9 by pulling it endwise from the core. To summarise on-the assemblage illustrated the discs 4 and spacers 14 are piled or stacked on the core 1 with the discs in engagementco-axially-with the blades 2, which in effect constitute notched spacing keys, and in contact with the blade 3 which serves as a stop key. The internal notches 5, 6, enable the discs to be placed over the keys and then turned so that the internal edges enter the relevant notches in the spacing keys 2, this movement being limited by the stop key 3, so that all of the notches in the disc are in register axially. The locking key 9 is then inserted into the core through the notches 5 whereby reverse turning movement of the discs is prevented.

In a particularly compact unit constituting a typical example of the invention, the core consists of a sleeve 1 of about 1 /8 in diameter with tricks or grooves 7 and a keyway 8% deep; the blades 2 and the key 9 are approximately wide so as to project about from the core. The notches are made correspondingly deep radially, so as to enable the discs to be slipped easily over the blades. The arcuate widths of the notches are such as to permit of a turning movement of about A". Internally, each of the discs and each of the spacers is about the same diameter as the core, and the discs are about 2 /2" diameter externally. The peripheral slots in the discs are approximately /8" deep. Consequently, the external diameter of each of the spacers 14 is commensurately reduced, so as to clear the inner ends of the slots.

Each of the discs may be provided with an index or like mark as a visual aid to facilitate assemblage of the discs in relation to the locating notch and may be marked as with the letters T, B and coloured as visual aids to correct packing for patterning purposes.

A patterning unit, or two or more units, of the improved form may be applied to the knitting machine in the manner illustrated by way of example, in FIGS. 1 and 5 wherein the core 1 is shown on a cylindrical hub 15 which is screwed into a centrally bossed circular part 16 through a flanged bush 17 fitted over the central boss so that the flange provides a base for the lower end of the core. The hub 15 has a knurled head 18 and is provided with a collar 19 whereby when the hub is screwed into position the core with its assemblage of discs 4 and spacers 14 is firmly held between the collar and the flange. The ends of the core are rabbetted respectively to accommodate the ends 2a, 3a, 9a of the blades 2, 3 and key 9, and the ends 211, 3b of the blades 2 and 3 so that these ends lie flush with the ends of the core as shown in FIG. 5, wherein only the ends 2a, 2b are visible. The bush 17 has a hole 20 in its flange for reception of a driving pin 21 over which the gap 22 between the blades 3 and 9, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2, when a core is located on the bush 17 and the hub 15 is screwed down. The bush is fitted within a sleeve 23 in a platform 24 with interposed washers 25, 26. An annular pinion 27 is fitted in the rabbetted periphery of the part 16 to which it is secured by screws. The part 16 is also secured by screws to the bush 17 A driving key may also be provided between the said part and the pinion 27.

The platform 24 is fixed on a ring 28 fitted into the bed plate 29 of the machine with the pinion in mesh with the head gear ring 30 of the machine. The platform is secured by screw bolts, one of which 31 is shown in FIG. 5, and screw adjustments 31a (FIG. 1) are provided for setting the platform with the patterning unit or units accurately in situ in relation to the elements to be influenced. The or each complete unit is thus mounted on the platform so that when the hub 15 is unscrewed and withdrawn from the bush 17 by means of the head 18, the pack thereon is thus removable for replacement by another with a different assemblage of discs, whereupon the hub is screwed back again into position.

It is within the scope of the invention to make the core 1 from metal, such as a light metal alloy, with integral formations 2, 3, as for example, by pressing, moulding, or die-casting, in which case the notches in the formations 2, and the keyway 8, may be cut subsequently by machining operations, if it is impracticable to form them simultaneously with the production of the core.

The complete units may be arranged singly or in pairs at desired stations on the knitting machine according to patterning requirements.

In the improved patterning unit, all of the discs are fixed so far as any radial movement towards and from the elements to be controlled or influenced are concerned, and the said elements may be sequentially shifted lengthwise under the control of variable moving means to dis pose patterning butts thereon opposite to the peripheries of predetermined discs.

Referring to FIG. 5 the portion of the machine shown includes a rotary needle cylinder 32, latch needles 33, jacks 34 with butts 35 on springy extensions for action upon the needles, and pressers 36 in front of the jacks 34 for selective action thereon as determined by the pattern discs. Normally the butts 35 are so disposed as to be acted upon by a jack raising cam 37 by means of which corresponding needles are actuated, whereas where extensions are pressed backwards by active pressers 36 selected by discs the corresponding butts 35 miss the cam 37 so that jacks and needles remain down according to pattern requirements. In the arrangement shown each presser is furnished with only one butt 38 for engagement by a disc, and means of known form (not shown) are provided for sequentially shifting the pressers vertically to dispose their single patterning butts 38 opposite to predetermined discs. Furthermore each of the pressers 36 is also provided with a complement of height selection butts 39--shorter than the butts 38 so as to prevent contact with the discs-and means including a retaining ring 40 (but not otherwise shown) are provided for supporting the pressers and locking them against heightwise movement, except in the region of a presser raising and lowering station.

Moreover, the comparatively narrow radial slots initially formed around the periphery of a disc are each normally of a width at least equal the thickness of the elements to be acted upon, and if for any reason slight misalignment occurs between patterning butts and peripheral bits, the butts are liable to enter slits or slots between bits with undesirable results. Accordingly, the peripheral formations may be treated suchwise that the outer ends of the slits or slots initially formed of normal width throughout are reduced in width by virtue of the outer portions of the bits 41 being reduced in thickness and spread laterally so as positively to prevent the patterning butts 38 slipping into them. For instance, the outer end portions of the peripheral bits may be ground or otherwise machined, and flattened to spatulate form as by a pressing or so-called coining operation carried out on the peripheral annular margin of the disc by means of a presser ring, without detriment to the breaking off of predetermined bits. After the pressing or coining operation, the outer edges of the bits are machined, e.g. ground to a prescribed outside diameter. In this way, the outer edges of a group of adjacent bits left on a disc after the latter has had predetermined ones of its bits broken off, provide in effect a continuous arcuate edge with no substantial gaps into which patterning butts may accidentally slip.

We claim:

1. A patterning assemblage for a patterning unit of the character described for use in a knitting machine equipped with elements having patterning butts so as to be adapted to be influenced for producing patterns in knitted fabric, the said assemblage comprising a carrier and discs with peripheral formations arranged co-axially on the carrier for action selectively on the butts, wherein the improvement comprises an elongated carrier having longitudinally toothed formations and longitudinal disc locating formation spaced around the carrier, annular discs each of which has formed in its internal edge notches respectively shaped to permit longitudinal location of the discs on the carrier and then relative turning movement between the disc and the carrier such that engagement of the discs with the toothed formatitons is effected to interlock the discs and the carrier longitudinally and radially, and a key for positively securing the discs and the carrier circumferentially in the interlocked relatiton said toothed formation and said locating formation being elongated blades inserted in elongated slots in the carrier.

2. A pre-loaded patterning assemblage according to claim 1, comprising a tubular carrier around which the longitudinally toothed formations and the longitudinal disc locating formations are angularly spaced, and a complement of discs with correspondingly spaced internal notches interlocked with the toothed formatitons, the whole constituting a self contained pack adapted to be detachably mounted in the patterning unit so that individual packs with respectively ditferent patterning characteristics can be readily substituted one for another according to patterning requirements.

3. A patterning unit of the character hereinbefore described with a pre-loaded pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pack is detachably mounted on a hub which is itself removably mounted in the patterning unit.

4. A patterning assemblage for a patterning unit of the character hereinbefore described for use in a knitting machine for selective action upon elements employed in the machine for producing patterned knitted fabric, wherein the improvement is that the said assemblage comprises an elongated tubular carrier, longitudinally toothed formations equi-angularly spaced at three points around the tublar carrier, a longitudinal disc locating formation between two of the points, a complement of annular discs each having a corresponding number and spacing of notches respectively formed on the internal edge of the discs and shaped to permit longitudinal locatiton of the discs on the carrier and relative rotation between the discs and the carrier such that the discs and the toothed formatitons are radially and longitudinally interlocked, and a key for positively securing the discs and the carrier circumferentially in the interlocked relation, the whole of the tubular carrier, the discs and the blades constituting a self contained pack adapted to be detachably mounted in the patterning unit so that individual packs with respectively different patterning characteristics can be readily substituted one for another according to patterning requirements.

5. A patterning assemblage as claimed in claim 1 whereof, in each of the discs one of the notches is substantially rectangular, and the other notches are ratchet tooth shaped for engagement of the discs with the locating formation and the toothed formations respectively.

6. A patterning assemblage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key is located in the same notch as the disc locating formation so as to provide a gap between them for reception of a driving pin mounted in a gear driven base for the carrier.

7. A knitting machine which includes a circular bed, a series of elements with patterning butts so arranged in the said bed as to be adapted to be influenced selectively for producing patterned knitted fabric, and a rotary patterning unit comprising an assemblage of discs with peripheral formatitons arranged co-axially on a concentric carrier, for action selectively on the butts, wherein the improvement comprises an elongated carrier which includes longitudinally toothed formatitons and a longitudinal disc locating formation spaced around the carrier, annular discs each of which has formed in its internal edge notches respectively shaped to permit longitudinal location of the disc on the carrier and then relative turning movement between the disc and the carrier such that engagement of the discs with the toothed formations is effected to interlock the discs and the carrier longitudinally and radially, and a key for positively securing the discs and the carrier circumferentially in the interlocked relation the blades constituting a self contained pack adapted to 'be detachably mounted in the patterning unit so that individual packs with respectively different patterning characteristics can be readily substituted one for another according to patterning requirements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 2/1963 Widdowson et a1. 6650 4/1967 Farmer 66-50 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1926 France 66156 RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

